Applied To Sway Or Torsion Bar Patents (Class 280/5.511)
  • Patent number: 11906020
    Abstract: A harmonic drive assembly and fluid-powered linear motors with both axial pistons are rotary piston arrangements incorporating the harmonic drive assembly are disclosed. The motors may be used in downhole drilling applications, but the drive assembly and/or motors may be used in other applications. The assembly, motors and methods use advanced harmonic drives, advanced helical drives, and combinations thereof with 1) motors with axial pistons and reciprocating linear rings to convert reciprocative axial motion to continuous rotary motion, and 2) motors with rotary pistons and reciprocating linear rings to rectify reciprocative rotary motion to continual rotary motion to improve performance over prior configurations. Axial pistons provide a robust simple solution for generating rotation; Rotational pistons provide increased torque generation as the torque generated is proportional to motor length. Since downhole drills are long, a high-torque motor can be produced using this method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignees: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
    Inventors: David W. Raymond, William T. Radigan
  • Patent number: 11834068
    Abstract: A vehicle control system for an autonomous vehicle includes: a first control device configured to generate a first driving plan including desired lateral lane driving positions or desired lateral lane driving position ranges; a plurality of first sensors configured to obtain information on motion of the vehicle and information on surroundings of the vehicle; and a second control device configured to communicate with the first control device, generate, based on the first driving plan obtained from the first control device and the information obtained by the first sensors, a second driving plan different from the first driving plan, the second driving plan including target lateral lane driving positions or target lateral lane driving position ranges, and control driving operation of the vehicle based on the second driving plan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshinori Watanabe, Kazuyuki Fujita, Takayuki Goto, Masahiro Harada, Nobuhide Kamata
  • Patent number: 11685222
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a stabilizer bar including: a steering angular velocity detection unit configured to detect a steering angular velocity of a vehicle in operation; a steering angle detection unit configured to detect a steering angle of the vehicle; and a control unit configured to determine whether the vehicle is turning, based on the steering angular velocity information and the steering angle information of the vehicle, and perform clutch coupling by driving a clutch of a stabilizer bar having the clutch applied thereto, when it is determined that the vehicle is turning. The control unit decides a clutch coupling time period in response to an instantaneous turning velocity of the vehicle, and performs the clutch coupling in response to the decided clutch coupling time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Cheol Joong Kim
  • Patent number: 11565567
    Abstract: A suspension assembly for a vehicle may include a first stabilizer bar operably coupled to a first wheel on a first side of the vehicle, a second stabilizer bar operably coupled to a second wheel on a second side of the vehicle, and an chassis coupler comprising an inverter housing and an actuator assembly. The actuator assembly may be operable to arrange the first stabilizer bar and the second stabilizer bar in a selected one of a connected state, a disconnected state, and an inverted state. The inverter housing may be alternately constrained to one of the first stabilizer bar or the chassis coupler based on a position of the actuator assembly to define each of the connected state, the disconnected state and the inverted state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Matthew Garn
  • Patent number: 11446974
    Abstract: An adjustable anti-roll bar arrangement for a vehicle, comprising a bracket configured to be mounted in a fixed relationship to a chassis or a an axle of the vehicle, a linear actuator connected to the bracket, a guided element, the linear actuator being configured to drive the guided element along a first geometrical axis, a supporting shaft mounted to the bracket and defining a second geometrical axis which has a different extension compared to the first geometrical axis, an anti-roll bar, and a stabilizer stay having a first end connected to the anti-roll bar, and a second end movably connected to and supported by the supporting shaft, the second end being also connected to the guided element such that when the linear actuator drives the guided element along the first geometrical axis, the second end follows the motion along the second geometrical axis. The invention also relates to a vehicle comprising such an arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Volvo Truck Corporation
    Inventors: Pontus Karlsson, Max Gålnander, Anders Olsson
  • Patent number: 11420492
    Abstract: An actuator device (1) for an adjustable roll stabilizer (2) of a motor vehicle, with a housing (4) that extends in the direction of a rotational axis (3) and an actuator (5) arranged in the housing. The actuator device (1) can be operated to twist two stabilizer sections (7a, 7b) relative to one another about the rotational axis (3) and the two stabilizer sections (7a, 7b) are attached to opposite ends (6a, 6b) of the actuator device (1). An engagement contour (8) is formed on the housing (4), which is suitable for immobilizing the housing during the application of torque (M1) to the housing (4) in a direction around the rotational axis (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Dirk Graeuler, Robert Rissling-Staupendahl
  • Patent number: 11279200
    Abstract: An anti-roll device comprises a bar coupled to two links, a hydraulic control circuit (CC) and actuating means (MAC) comprising a casing (CR) defining the chamber (CH) subdivided into a first (P1) and a second (P2) part by a piston (PI), and comprising first (ES1) and second (ES2) inlets-outlets communicating with the first (P1) and second (P2) parts and an intermediate inlet-outlet (ES1) communicating with the first part (P1) or with the second part (P2) depending on the position of the piston (PI). These actuating means (MAC) adopt a disengaged state or block state in whatever position of the piston (PI), according to the accessibility status of the first (ES1) and second (ES2) inlets-outlets and of the intermediate inlet-outlet (ES1). The control circuit (CC) controls the accessibility statuses according to the commands received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignees: PSA AUTOMOBILES SA, BWI FRANCE S.A.S.U.
    Inventors: Alan Cavarec, Philippe Germain, Bruno Perrée
  • Patent number: 11279195
    Abstract: A suspension system for a vehicle includes at least two torsion bars, each of which are connected on their first end to respective wheel suspensions that are arranged on opposite lateral sides of the vehicle. Movement of the wheel suspensions produces torque in the respective torsion bars. Each of the torsion bars are connected on their second ends to a frame of the vehicle through a damper system. Movement of the wheel suspensions produces torque in the respective torsion bar. The damper system selectively applies resistance to the torque in the torsion bars to selectively provide active variable spring rates to the wheel suspension, which application of resistance may be coordinated amongst the various torsion bars to inhibit roll of the vehicle during a turning maneuver or to increase occupant comfort when the vehicle encounters a bump or hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jacob M. Ruemelin, Brandon E. Ricketts
  • Patent number: 11090996
    Abstract: A suspension control system includes: variable damping force dampers provided between a vehicle body and each wheel; a roll rate output unit configured to determine if a steering angle speed based on a steering angle is equal to or greater than a prescribed determination value, to output a roll rate detected by a roll rate sensor if the steering angle speed is equal to or greater than the determination value, and to output zero if the steering angle speed is less than the determination value; a pitch moment computation unit configured to compute a target pitch moment of the vehicle body based on an output of the roll rate output unit; and a damping force computation unit configured to compute a target damping force of each damper based on the target pitch moment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuya Goto, Ryoma Kanda
  • Patent number: 10350955
    Abstract: A vehicle structure for a two-track vehicle provided with an auxiliary frame for a vehicle axle, in particular a rear axle, which is provided with a wheel suspension on the articulation points for wheel link on the superstructure side, which are connected to articulation points on the wheel carrier side, connected to a wheel carrier carrying a vehicle wheel, and which is equipped with a spring and/or damper unit, which is supported between a vehicle superstructure and the wheel suspension, wherein the wheel frame is connected to at least one auxiliary frame bearing in a manner that is decoupled from oscillations at the vehicle superstructure, and wherein the wheel and/or damping unit is equipped with a rotational damper. According to the invention, the auxiliary frame bearing is provided with a connection point at which is connected the rotational damper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Hans-Jürgen Langhoff, Dominik Stiegler
  • Patent number: 10086669
    Abstract: Left and right stabilizer bars are provided between left and right wheels of a vehicle. A control unit controls an actuator to control a rotation angle of the right stabilizer bar with respect to the left stabilizer bar. The control unit determines whether the vehicle is moving, whether a vehicle speed is less than a first threshold value, and whether a vehicle state is in transition from a moving state to a stopped state. A detection unit detects a control amount of the actuator. When the vehicle is moving, the vehicle speed is less than the first threshold value, the vehicle state is in transition from the moving state to the stopped state, and the control amount of the actuator is greater than zero, the control unit decreases the control amount of the actuator such that the control amount of the actuator becomes zero before the vehicle speed becomes zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toru Takashima, Tetsuya Morino, Yusuke Suetake
  • Patent number: 9416849
    Abstract: Disclosed is a backlash reduction mechanism that can stably control the position of a vehicle, using a backlash reduction unit for reducing backlash of a reduction gear in a vehicle capable of actively controlling roll, and an actuator of a vehicle equipped with the backlash reduction mechanism. Further, the present invention provides a torsion damper capable of stably controlling the position of a vehicle capable of controlling roll, and an actuator of a vehicle equipped with the torsion damper. Further, the present invention provides a coaxial-aligning part that compensates for left-right inclination through stabilizers by generating a torsional force in a vehicle capable of actively controlling roll, and an actuator of a vehicle equipped with the coaxially-aligning part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyung Ryul Park, Young Kwang Kim, Jun Sung Park
  • Patent number: 9340088
    Abstract: A suspension device includes damper interposed between vehicle body and wheel in vehicle and exerted damping force for suppressing vertical movements of vehicle body and wheel, damping force adjustment mechanism adjusts damping force, control device controls damping force adjustment mechanism, lateral acceleration detection unit detects an lateral acceleration acting on vehicle body, roll angular velocity detection unit detects roll angular velocity of vehicle body, and steering angular velocity detection unit detects steering angular velocity of steering wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: KYB Corporation
    Inventors: Takafumi Otake, Shinichi Hagidaira, Osamu Miyatani, Yasuhiro Ota
  • Patent number: 9091306
    Abstract: A power transmission device 1 includes a variable stiffness unit 41, which has variable stiffness, receives a torque from a motor A2, and transmits the torque to an output unit B, a variable viscosity coefficient unit 42, which has variable viscosity, receives the torque from the motor A2, and transmits the torque to the output unit B, and a controller A4 which modifies the stiffness of the variable stiffness unit 41 and the viscosity of the variable viscosity coefficient unit 42.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Atsuo Orita
  • Patent number: 8998216
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a pair of rear wheels, a frame portion, a roll-over protection cage supported by the frame portion, a pair of suspension assemblies at a rear region of the frame portion to suspend the pair of rear wheels, an engine supported by the frame portion, with at least a portion of the engine being at a more rearward position than the roll-over protection cage, and a rear stabilizer connecting the pair of suspension assemblies to each other. Each of the pair of suspension assemblies includes an arm portion supported pivotably by the frame portion, and a shock absorber which connects the arm portion and the frame portion to each other. The rear stabilizer overlaps the engine in a plan view, passing in front of the pair of shock absorbers and below the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenichi Maeda, Yasuhiro Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8919794
    Abstract: A device suspends a steerable wheel on a vehicle via a wheel carrier that is pivotable about a steering axis and on which the wheel is rotatably mounted. The device includes an upper link including a first end and a second end. The upper link is pivotably mounted on the vehicle by the first end and supports the wheel carrier by the second end via a wheel carrier arm. A lower link includes a wheel-side end on which the wheel carrier is pivotably mounted and a vehicle-side end that is pivotably mounted on the vehicle. A stabilizer is pivotably supported in support bearings on the vehicle. The stabilizer includes a free end connected to a coupling rod that extends in a bent manner around a wheel-side region of a spring strut and another end that is mounted on the wheel carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Reinhard Kunert
  • Patent number: 8905414
    Abstract: A stabilizer arrangement for a chassis of a motor vehicle, having at least one actuator which compensates for vehicle movements entirely or partially in the region of a wheel suspension which is connected to the stabilizer arrangement, wherein the actuator can be actuated via flexible lines. The actuator is connected to a central control unit via flexible lines to be routed from the central control unit, via openings which are arranged in a stabilizer bearing, to the actuator which interacts with a stabilizer, wherein the flexible lines are arranged around the stabilizer in a helical manner, and operation of the actuator causes a change in the diameter of the helix or the helix shape of the flexible lines which are laid in a helical manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Jafar Khanlarov, Eric Begenau
  • Patent number: 8870191
    Abstract: An active roll control device utilizes driving torque to move a suspension arm side connection point of a stabilizer link connecting both sides of a stabilizer bar with a suspension arm along a sliding unit to actively control vehicle roll. The sliding unit may include slide rails, a load surface on an upper surface and a lower surface, and a guide surface on an inner side surface, a connector is connected to a pushrod of a drive shaft of the operating source and a lower end portion of the stabilizer link through a double ball joint, a plurality of load rollers rotatably disposed on an upper surface and a lower surface of the connector through a roller pin and contacts the load surface of the sliding rail, and guide rollers rotatably on the connector through a roller pin and contacts the guide surface of the sliding rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Un Koo Lee, Sung Bae Jang, Pil Young Jeong
  • Patent number: 8864154
    Abstract: An actuator having an electromechanical drive and a housing is provided. The driving torque provided by an electric motor is transmitted by gear train to two actuator outputs connected to two parts of a stabilizer. The gear train is an eccentric gear train, the drive shaft of which is driven by the electric motor. An overall eccentric driven by the drive shaft has on its circumference a drive gear having a first outer profile and a second outer profile different therefrom. In the operating state the drive gear first outer profile is connected to a first inner profile of a first one of the outputs and the drive gear second outer profile is connected to a second inner profile of the second one of the outputs, and the connection can be eliminated by changing the eccentricity of the eccentric such that both outputs can rotate freely relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Asturia Automotive Systems AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Freund, Andreas Kissler, Tino Schmidt, Matthias Maier, Juergen Schulze
  • Publication number: 20140183829
    Abstract: An active roll control system that actively controls roll by changing roll strength of a stabilizer bar by varying a connection position of a stabilizer link, which connects both ends of the stabilizer bar on a subframe with a suspension arm, on the suspension arm. The suspension arm includes a rail unit that has a top opening and includes slide rails arranged in a vehicle width direction within the rail unit, and guides a connector connected with the lower end of the stabilizer link along the slide rails. In addition, an actuator unit of the suspension arm has a driving shaft connected with the connector and provides a forward and rearward driving force to the connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Sung-Jun Kim
  • Patent number: 8746705
    Abstract: An active roll control system that actively controls roll by changing roll strength of a stabilizer bar by varying a connection position of a stabilizer link, which connects both ends of the stabilizer bar on a subframe with a suspension arm, on the suspension arm. The suspension arm includes a rail unit that has a top opening and includes slide rails arranged in a vehicle width direction within the rail unit, and guides a connector connected with the lower end of the stabilizer link along the slide rails. In addition, an actuator unit of the suspension arm has a driving shaft connected with the connector and provides a forward and rearward driving force to the connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Sung-Jun Kim
  • Patent number: 8684365
    Abstract: A stabilizer system is provided with a stabilizer bar configured to connect a left wheel and a right wheel of a vehicle to each other and suppress a roll of the vehicle by torsional reaction force, an actuator configured to control a relative torsional amount between a side of the left wheel and a side of the right wheel of the stabilizer bar, and a control device configured to control the actuator. The actuator can selectively operate in a permitting mode in which increase and decrease in the torsional amount is permitted or in a regulating mode in which the increase and decrease in the torsional amount is regulated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Satoshi Kondo
  • Patent number: 8616569
    Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement of a stabilizer (44), which is configured in two parts, on a wheel suspension for a motor vehicle, characterized in that the stabilizer parts (43) thereof can be rotated relative to one another in the same or opposite direction by means of an associated motor/gear unit (46). Each stabilizer part (43) comprises a hollow-cylindrical outer torsion bar (49) whose end on the gear side (45) is connected to a gear output (50a) and whose end distal from the gear is connected for drive purposes to an inner torsion bar (47) which is guided through the hollow-cylindrical outer torsion bar (49) and out of the end (45) on the gear side of the hollow-cylindrical outer torsion bar. The inner torsion bar (47) is directly or indirectly connected to an output lever (41) which is articulated on a wheel suspension element (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventors: Armin Ohletz, Walter Schmidt
  • Patent number: 8613452
    Abstract: An electromechanical actuator, especially for an anti-roll bar of a motor vehicle, that has two actuator elements, which can be rotated relative to each other about a common rotational axis, for which purpose an electric motor and a gearbox coupled therewith are provided. The electric motor is arranged in an actuator element for transmitting a torque, and an output shaft of the gearbox is coupled to the other actuator element. A mechanical overload coupling is provided in the torque-transmitting load path from the electric motor to the gearbox output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Ulrich Grau, Thorsten Meyerhoefer, Ralf Mayer
  • Patent number: 8608186
    Abstract: An active roll control system that may be adapted to actively control roll stiffness of a vehicle by adjusting a mounting position of a stabilizer link connecting a suspension arm with a stabilizer bar of the vehicle on the suspension arm according to a driving condition of vehicle may include a driving unit which including a housing connected with a side of the suspension arm, a rail plate disposed within the housing, and a connector movable along the rail plate, and a stabilizer link of which one end may be connected with an end of the stabilizer bar and the other end may be connected with the connector through a first joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Un Koo Lee, Sung Bae Jang, Pil Young Jeong
  • Patent number: 8562008
    Abstract: A stabilizer coupling for use in a roll stabilizer for a motor vehicle has at least one actuator, with the actuator being formed by an outer profile element and an inner profile element. An elastically deformable body is arranged between the outer profile element and the inner profile element. The outer profile element is formed as a hollow profile component, in particular a hollow profile component constructed as an extruded profile and made from a light metal alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Oliver Seibt, Jürgen Krogmeier, Igor Illg, Friso Berheide, Andreas Janzen
  • Patent number: 8398092
    Abstract: A roll control system improves stability in turning by actively controlling roll stiffness in accordance with traveling conditions of a vehicle. The active roll control system for a vehicle suspension includes a stabilizer bar of which the middle straight portion is fixed to a sub-frame by a mount bush and both ends are connected with a lower control arm by a stabilizer link to suppress roll of the vehicle body, in which a roll control mechanism is disposed between a lower end connecting portion of the stabilizer link and the lower control arm to increase roll stiffness by increasing a lever ratio of the stabilizer bar, if needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Un Koo Lee, Sung Bae Jang
  • Patent number: 8382125
    Abstract: The present invention relates to all terrain vehicles having at least a pair of laterally spaced apart seating surfaces. More particularly, the present invention relates to trail compliant side-by-side all terrain vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Larry Sunsdahl, Aaron David Deckard, Marcus Johannes Tullemans, Richard E. Eck, Jason Carl Plugge, Alan A. Meyer, Laurie Jean Rengel, Geoffrey G. White, Thomas Samuel Parks McCoubrey, Brian Michael Safranski
  • Patent number: 8313108
    Abstract: A stiffness control system and apparatus includes one or more stiffness elements which are each activated by a smart actuator including a smart material which may be one of a shape memory alloy (SMA), a magnetorheological (MR) fluid, an electrorheological (ER) fluid, and a piezo-stack. The stiffness control system includes a first and second interface adaptable to transmit input loads and a plurality of stiffness elements. A first stiffness element is operatively connected to the first and second interfaces and is continuously responsive to a change in system operating characteristics including input loads. A second stiffness element is selectively activated by the smart actuator so as to selectively respond to a change in system conditions. The continuous response of the first stiffness element can be selectively combined with the activated response of the second stiffness element to dynamically control system stiffness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Shivaram Ac, Amol G. Thakare, Vidyashankar R. Buravalla, Srinivasan Suryanarayan
  • Patent number: 8167319
    Abstract: A stabilizer apparatus including: (a) torsion bars; (b) a cylinder device including a movable piston and cooperating with the piston to define a fluid chamber accommodating therein a working fluid; and (c) a mechanism configured to hold the piston in a movement end position when the torsion bars are positioned in a neutral angular position, move the piston away from the movement end position when the torsion bars are rotated away from the neutral angular position, and move the piston toward the movement end position when the torsion bars are rotated toward the neutral angular position. The apparatus is capable of switching between a state that allows the piston to be moved in both the opposite directions by allowing outflow and inflow of the working fluid from and into the fluid chamber and another state that allows the piston to be moved only toward the movement end position by allowing only one of the outflow and inflow of the working fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Atsushi Ogawa
  • Patent number: 8118314
    Abstract: The invention relates to a switchable stabilizer device for the axle of a motor vehicle. Herein, the actuating device comprises a roll stabilizer and an actuatorically switchable coupling device (6) with two clutch devices (7, 8) and a locking sleeve (9). According to the present invention, the stabilizer device is characterized by a shifting device for shifting the locking sleeve (9) by means of mechanical power transmission. Herein, the shifting device has a servo-electric transmission drive element (4). The present invention provides a robust and compact switchable roll stabilizer, which can be produced cost-efficiently. At the same time, the present invention allows for the actuatoric support of the opening movement as well as the locking movement of the stabilizer coupling with very short shifting times. The switchable stabilizer according to the present invention is suitable for motor vehicles, for example, which are employed off-road as well as on the road.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Metin Ersoy, Jens Vortmeyer, Bernd Grannemann
  • Patent number: 8109522
    Abstract: A stabilizer bar system that includes a first stabilizer bar, a second stabilizer bar and a clutch having a clutch housing and a plurality of coupling members housed in the clutch housing. The first stabilizer bar is received in the clutch housing for rotation relative to the clutch housing about a rotational axis. The second stabilizer bar is fixedly coupled to the clutch housing. The coupling members are configured to selectively non-rotatably couple the first stabilizer bar to the clutch housing such that the clutch housing is employed to transmit torque between the first and second stabilizer bars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew F. Pinkos, Todd M. York, Curt D. Gilmore, Gary A. Oliveira, Mark A. Danielsen
  • Patent number: 8070169
    Abstract: An actuator for an active roll control system that connects a stabilizer bar with a lower arm may include a screw housing having a space, a power transmitter slidably mounted in an upper interior circumference of the screw housing, and having an upper end portion connected to one end of the stabilizer bar and a lower end portion slidably movable in the space wherein the lower end portion of the power transmitter includes a screw groove and a screw thread is formed at an interior circumference of an inlet portion, a lead screw being inserted in the screw groove of the power transmitter and threaded to the screw thread of the inlet portion and having a screw rotation shaft integrally connected to a lower end thereof, and a drive motor mounted at a lower portion of the screw housing and having a rotation shaft connected to the screw rotation shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Sung Jun Kim, Hae Ryong Choi, Sang Ho Lee
  • Patent number: 8027765
    Abstract: A stabilizer system for a vehicle that includes a stabilizer bar and an actuator for changing stiffness of the stabilizer bar, an electric current to be supplied to an electric motor that is a drive source of the actuator is changed based on various parameters. The supply current is made smaller in a situation in which an operational direction of the actuator is toward a neutral position, than in another situation. Further, the supply current is made smaller with an increase in a distance of the operational position of the actuator from the neutral position. Moreover, the supply current is made larger with an increase in a steering speed. In detail, when the supply current is determined by multiplying a basic supply current by a control gain, the control gain is set to change depending upon the above-indicated parameter, whereby the supply current is changed based on the parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shingo Urababa, Satoshi Suzuki, Yoshihiro Iida, Takashi Sugano
  • Patent number: 7992485
    Abstract: An apparatus for compensating and/or transmitting forces/torques and rotational movements between two components, particularly for compensating for vehicle movements, in which at least one joint module is situated between the two components, which joint module converts a translational and/or rotational movement of a piston, to which a pressure medium is applied, into a rotational movement of at least one first rotatable shaft or of a first and a second rotatable shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: asturia Automotive Systems AG
    Inventors: Daniel Lezock, Wolfgang Freund, Juergen Schulze
  • Patent number: 7988164
    Abstract: An arrangement of a roll stabilization system equipped with a split lateral stabilizer and an arrangement of a steering system on a double track motor vehicle is provided. A gear of the roll stabilization system is arranged essentially coaxially between two halves of the lateral stabilizer rotatable with respect to one another, and a motor for introducing a stabilization torque is arranged at the side of this gear and the lateral stabilizer. The steering system has, in addition to a steering gear, with which steering arms can be moved essentially in the transverse direction of the vehicle, a motor, which is arranged at the side of the steering gear and a movement axis defined by the movable steering arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Wolfgang Schmidt, Stephan Ertlmaier
  • Patent number: 7983814
    Abstract: Method for operating an adjustable stabilizer arrangement including an actuator, which applies actuator torque to stabilizer sections as a function of a command variable to influence the rolling movement of a motor vehicle body, where sensors are used to detect the movement of the motor vehicle body and the movements of the wheels. An operating condition of the actuator supplies a variable which can be used to determine the actuator torque, upon which is superimposed an adjustment signal for the actuator, and where the variable is modified by a weighting factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Karl-Hermann Ketteler, Andreas Fuessl, Johannes Schmid
  • Patent number: 7959164
    Abstract: An example roll control device uses differential pressure values, for example, that are conveyed by a motor driven pump to a first actuator associated with a first stabilizer. The differential pressure values are also conveyed from the motor driven pump to a second stabilizer through a proportional valve in one example. In another example, multiple actuators are utilized with each actuator being associated with a separate motor driven pump in communication with a common controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: ArvinMeritor Technology, LLC
    Inventors: James Keane, Simon Dean, Edward H. Phillips, Eric Smay
  • Patent number: 7938410
    Abstract: In a suspension system for a vehicle, a suspension spring, an absorber for controllably changing the damping coefficient becoming the reference of amount of its own generating damping force, a displacement force generator for controllably generating a displacement force are arranged in parallel between sprung and unsprung members. A vibration damping control is executed based on a so-called skyhook damper theory by utilizing the displacement force. In execution of the vibration damping control, when a sign of sprung-member absolute velocity Vu and a sign of sprung/unsprung-members velocity difference ?V are the same to each other, a damping-coefficient increasing control is executed to set a target damping coefficient C* of the absorber to a coefficient value C2 that is larger than a coefficient value C1 to which the target damping coefficient C* is set when the sign of sprung-member absolute velocity Vu and the sign of sprung/unsprung-members velocity difference ?V are different from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shuuichi Buma, Kazuaki Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 7931281
    Abstract: A variable stiffness stabilizer device (1) has a stabilizer bar (2) and actuators (3). The stabilizer bar (2) has a torsion bar (4) extending in the lateral direction (X1) of a vehicle and arms (6) connected through bend portions (5) to the ends (4a, 4b) of the torsion bar (4) and bendingly deformed according to the strokes of wheel supporting members (11). Variable bending stiffness parts (13; 130) of the arms (6) are rotatable about the axes (C1) of the arms (6), so that the bending stiffness of the arms (6) can be changed according to their rotational positions. The actuators (3) rotationally drive the variable bending stiffness parts (13; 130) about the axes (C1) to adjust the rotational positions of the variable bending stiffness parts (13; 130).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Shingo Maeda, Sadahiro Kawahara, Masanori Arima, Kosuke Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 7926821
    Abstract: A chassis arrangement includes a stabilizer having a single-piece center part with opposite ends, a first stabilizer arm connected to one of the opposite ends of the center part, and a second stabilizer arm connected to the other one of the opposite ends of the center part. A stabilizer support assembly having two support units supports the center part in relation to a vehicle body. Operatively connected to the center part are at least two brake units for influencing a twistability of the center part, with one of the brake units being arranged between one of the support units and an adjacent one of the first and second stabilizer arms, and the other one of the brake units being arranged between the other one of the support units and an adjacent one of the first and second stabilizer arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Armin Zuber
  • Patent number: 7909339
    Abstract: A vehicle stabilizer bar assembly having a pair of stabilizer bar members that are selectively uncoupled via a clutch. The clutch includes a moving element that can be selectively moved via an actuator to effect the uncoupling of the stabilizer bar members. The actuator is configured to apply a force to the moving element concentrically about the axis along which the moving element translates. The clutch is configured to transmit torque from one of the stabilizer bar members to the other stabilizer bar member concentrically about the axis. A method for operating a vehicle stabilizer bar assembly is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew F. Pinkos, Todd M. York, Curt D. Gilmore, Gary A. Oliveira, Mark A. Danielsen
  • Patent number: 7905499
    Abstract: A stabilizer system for a vehicle includes a stabilizer bar and an actuator and that executes a control actively changing stiffness of the stabilizer bar in accordance with roll moment acting on a body of the vehicle. Each of a situation in which the vehicle is running straightforward and a situation in which a torque generating direction of a motor of the actuator changes in opposite direction plural times is identified as a specific situation. In the specific situation, a control of changing an operation mode of the motor such that presence or absence of occurrence of resistance of the actuator against its operation by external input force is changeable, and a control of limiting a supply current to the motor such that the torque generating direction of the motor is inhibited from coinciding with a direction away from a neutral position are executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shuuichi Buma, Jaesung Cho
  • Patent number: 7896360
    Abstract: A vehicle stabilizer system including: (a) a stabilizer bar (28) including (a-1) a torsion bar portion (90), and (a-2) an arm portion (92) that extends from the torsion bar portion in a direction not parallel to the torsion bar portion; (b) an actuator (32) configured to rotate the stabilizer bar about an axis of the torsion bar portion; and (c) a link rod (34) interconnecting the suspension arm (78) and one of opposite ends of the arm portion that is remote from the torsion bar portion. The stabilizer bar generates a stabilizing force which is dependent on a reaction that is generated as a result of torsion of the torsion bar portion, and which forces the wheel (12) and the body in a selected one of a direction toward each other and a direction away from each other. The actuator allows the stabilizer bar to generate the stabilizing force whose magnitude is changeable by operation of the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shuuichi Buma
  • Patent number: 7896359
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of producing a divided tube stabilizer having a swivel motor (2) mutually coupling two tube stabilizer halves (3, 4), a first tube stabilizer half (3) being non-rotatably connected with a first connection part (5) of the swivel motor, and a second stabilizer half (4) being non-rotatably connected with a second connection part (6) of the swivel motor (2). In order to achieve that the tube stabilizer halves can be easily linked in a non-rotatable manner with the connection parts of the swivel motor, the following process steps are suggested: a. The tube ends to be connected with the connection parts (5, 6) of the swivel motor (2) are expanded and upset in one working step by means of a mandrel (20); b. the tube stabilizer halves (3, 4) with the expanded and upset ends are shaped to their final shape by bending; c. the finished bent tube stabilizer halves (3, 4) are subjected to a heat treatment; d.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: ThyssenKrupp Technologies AG
    Inventors: Hans Dziemballa, Lutz Manke, Frank Schneider
  • Patent number: 7887072
    Abstract: A disconnectable link may include a first link member having a generally tubular portion, a first ball joint disposed on the first link member and adapted to engage a first suspension member; a second link member slidably receivable within the first link member; a second ball joint disposed on the second link member and adapted to engage a second suspension member; a lock shaft engaged with the second link member; and a lock element disposed within an aperture in the second link member. Movement of the lock shaft into a first position may cause the lock element to engage the first link member to prevent relative axial movement between the first and second link members, and movement of the lock shaft into a second position may cause the lock element to disengage the first link member to allow relative axial movement between the first and second link members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt Hauser, Thomas E. Gansenhuber, Jeffrey L. Kincaid
  • Patent number: 7871083
    Abstract: A stabilizer system, for use in a vehicle, exhibiting an appropriate rolling-restraining effect to restrain rolling of a body of the vehicle. An electronic control unit includes a control-start-timing reference-relative-rotation-position determining portion that determines a reference relative-rotation position of two stabilizer bars from which a relative-rotation amount of the two stabilizer bars is counted when a rolling-restraining control is performed. In the stabilizer system, when a lateral acceleration exceeds a reference value, the rolling-restraining control is started; and a relative-rotation position of the two stabilizer bars when the lateral acceleration exceeds the reference value is determined as the reference relative-rotation position of the two stabilizer bars. Thus, an appropriate reference relative-rotation position of the two stabilizer bars can be easily determined and accordingly an appropriate rolling-restraining effect of the two stabilizer bars can be exhibited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shingo Urababa, Tomoyuki Iida
  • Patent number: 7871082
    Abstract: Anti-roll system especially for a vehicle, comprising system control means, a tank (4) and a pump (3) for a hydraulic fluid, and two or more stabilizers, each stabilizer comprising an actuator (5, 6) which is arranged to control the relevant stabilizer's moment in dependency of the hydraulic pressure at the actuator's terminals. Each actuator has either one or both of its terminals (A, B) connected to a first terminal (I) of a pressure control module (8) which has a second terminal (II) connected to the tank's inlet side and a third terminal (III) to the pump's outlet side. The control means and each control module are arranged to supply a fluid pressure at its first terminal under control of said control means. The pressure control modules (8) may comprise a series connection of two pressure control valves (1, 2) e.g. pressure relief or limitation valves. As an alternative the pressure control modules (8) comprise a three-way pressure control valve (9), e.g. a three-way pressure reduction valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Nederlandse Organisatie Voor Toegepast-natuurwetenschaffelijk Onderzoek TNO
    Inventors: Jozef Zuurbier, Albertus Clemens Maria Van Der Knaap
  • Patent number: 7841602
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an active, divided stabilizer for of motor vehicle having an installed electric pivot motor for roll regulation, which comprises at least one actuating drive made of electric motor and pivot motor transmission and a housing, at least one housing part being connected to an associated stabilizer part for torque transmission. The present invention is distinguished in that the housing part has an axially oriented, central recess, into which the stabilizer part extends essentially up to its end, and the connection for torque transmission between the housing part and the associated stabilizer part is located there.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Reinhard Simkovics
  • Patent number: 7837202
    Abstract: A stabilizer control device for a vehicle includes a first and second stabilizer bars, a housing fixed to an end portion of the second stabilizer bar so as to arrange an end portion of the first stabilizer bar adjacent to the end portion of the second stabilizer bar, a rotational torque reducing mechanism having an input portion fixed to the first stabilizer bar and the housing and reducing a relative rotational torque between the housing and the first stabilizer bar and outputting, a hollow member including the first stabilizer bar so as to rotatably support the first stabilizer bar within the housing and fixed with an output portion of the rotational torque reducing mechanism so as to rotatably support the output portion within the housing, and a clutch mechanism arranged between the hollow member and the housing for engaging and disengaging therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akiya Taneda, Ken Ogue, Toshiyuki Sakai